"Nuit d'étoiles" is a mélodie by Claude Debussy based on a poem by Théodore de Banville.
Overview Debussy composed "Nuit d'étoiles" in 1880 when he was eighteen years old, based on a poem from Théodore de Banville's 1846 collection, Les Stalactites. He dedicated the short composition, less than three minutes, to the singing teacher Madame Moreau-Sainti who had hired him as accompanist for her classes."A Singer’s Guide to the Great Composers: Debussy" by Brian Bannatyne-Scott, 17 March 2021, Edinburgh Music Review
Versions of "Nuit d'étoiles" have been recorded by Véronique Gens, Natalie Dessay, Sophie Karthäuser, and Sabine Devieilhe.
Lyrics Nuit d’étoiles, Sous tes voiles, Sous ta brise et tes parfums, Triste lyre Qui soupire, Je rêve aux amours défunts.
La sereine mélancolie Vient éclore au fond de mon cœur, Et j’entends l’âme de ma mie Tressaillir dans le bois rêveur.
Nuit d’étoiles ...
Je revois à notre fontaine Tes regards bleus comme les cieux; Cette rose, c’est ton haleine, Et ces étoiles sont tes yeux.
Nuit d’étoiles ... Night of stars, Beneath your veils, beneath your breeze and fragrance, Sad lyre That sighs, I dream of bygone loves.
Serene melancholy Now blooms deep in my heart, And I hear the soul of my love Quiver in the dreaming woods.
Night of stars...
Once more at our fountain I see Your eyes as blue as the sky; This rose is your breath And these stars are your eyes.
Night of stars...
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, Sabine Devieilhe (soprano), Alexandre Tharaud (piano)